Programmable sewing machine

Abstract

A programmable industrial sewing machine adapted to learn and store, in Automatic Learn or Key Learn Modes of operation, a series of sewing machine operations for later automatic duplication. In both modes of operation provision is made for an operator to select the number of initial and final locking stitches prior to commencing stitching operations. Operator actuated controls, such as knee shift device and foot treadle, operate identically in both Learn Modes of operation and as they would operate in a normal manual industrial sewing machine. In the Automatic Learn Mode of operation, a record is compiled in segments, consisting each of a stitch count, a pivot delay time, and a speed copy. In appropriate circumstance, the pivot delay time may be zero. Various positions of the foot treadle, including the neutral and heel position, elicit an appropriate response by means of a computer to effect a recording of a logical series of stitching operations for later automatic reproduction with operator guidance of a work material. In the Key Learn Mode of operation, provision is made for operator imposition of sewing speeds and pivot delay times to facilitate, for example, a rapid record production for automatic operation of the sewing machine at a slower rate of speed with an inexperienced operator.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what is sought to be claimed is: 
     
       1. A programmable sewing machine adapted to perform a sequence of operations on a work material, said programmable sewing machine comprising: a sewing machine frame;   a sewing needle supported by said frame for selectively repeated movement from a down position through a work material to an up position and return to a down position;   means for counting said selectively repeated movement of said sewing needle;   a looptaker supported by said frame for cooperation with said sewing needle in the formation of stitches;   a reversible work material feed system supported by said frame and including feeding means for passing work material in a path between said needle and said looptaker;   drive means for actuating said sewing needle, said looptaker and said work material feed system in synchronism with each other;   manual regulating means for selectively actuating said drive means;   a presser device selectively movable from a position urging said work material against said feeding means to a position out of contact with said work material;   manual control means for selectively moving said presser device out of contact with said work material;   means for measuring time duration of actuation of said manual control means;   a computer having means for self directed recording once initiated of a sequence of operations of the manual actuation of said regulating means including the count from said counting means of the selectively repeated movement of said sewing needle, and of the manual actuation of said control means for selectively moving said presser device including the time duration of actuation thereof from said time duration measuring means; and,   means for enabling said sewing machine to be operated in accordance with instructions from said recording means of said computer.   
     
     
       2. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes means for dynamically braking to a low speed and means for mechanically braking to a stopped condition with said sewing needle in one of said up position and down position thereof; and wherein said regulating means includes an actuated position, and non-actuated and heel positions for implementing dynamic braking and mechanical braking of said drive means. 
     
     
       3. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said computer is responsive to said non-actuated position of said regulating means to activate said dynamic brake means and said mechanical brake means to stop said drive means with said sewing needle in said down position thereof; and said computer is responsive to said heel position of said regulating means to actuate said dynamic brake means and said mechanical brake means to stop said drive means with said sewing needle in said up position thereof. 
     
     
       4. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said computer is responsive to a count from said counting means of at least one movement of said sewing needle and to said actuated position of said regulating means following a non-actuated position thereof; to record in said recording means the count from said counting means and to reset the counting means to zero. 
     
     
       5. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said computer is responsive to a count from said counting means of at least one movement of said sewing needle, to said non-actuated position of said regulating means and to manual actuation of said manual control means for moving said presser foot out of contact with said work material to initiate operation of said means for measuring time duration of actuation of said manual control means; is responsive to a subsequent non-actuation of said manual control means to move said presser foot into contact with said work material and to compute the elapsed time duration of actuation of said manual control means; and is responsive to a subsequent disposition of said regulating means in an actuated position to record the count from said counting means and the elapsed time duration of actuation of said manual control means, and to reset said counting means and said means for measuring time duration to zero. 
     
     
       6. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sewing machine includes means for trimming and wiping stitching thread when said sequence of stitching operations on a work material is completed; and wherein actuation of said regulating means to said heel position with a count from said counting means of at least one movement of said sewing needle, further activates said computer to record the count from said counting means and any elapsed time duration of actuation of said manual control means, and to reset said counting means and said means for measuring time duration to zero, and activate said means for trimming and wiping stitching thread. 
     
     
       7. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 6, including reversing means for said reversible work material feed system, and wherein said computer further includes manual means for recording an operator selected number of initial stitches for automatically operating said sewing machine in the selected number of initial stitches and for automatically actuating said reversing means for said selected number of initial stitches, as an initial stitching operation and prior to said sequence of operations. 
     
     
       8. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said manual recording means of said computer is effective to record an operator selected number of final stitches for automatically actuating said reversing means of said sewing machine for the selected number of final stitches and for automatically operating said sewing machine for said selected number of final stitches, as a final stitching operation and after completion of said sequence of operations. 
     
     
       9. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said computer is effective to operate said drive means of said sewing machine at a lower speed at least two stitches prior to actuation of said reversing means. 
     
     
       10. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said computer includes means for indicating to an operator a condition of insufficient storage capacity in said recording means for additional operations of said sewing machine. 
     
     
       11. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein said drive means is a variable speed drive means, and wherein said regulating means in said actuated position selectively implements said variable speed, means in said computer associated with said variable speed drive means and said regulating means for inserting in said recording means a variable speed recording related to said selectively implemented variable speed of said regulating means. 
     
     
       12. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said computer includes means selectively effective for receiving operator imposed instructions for speed for insertion in said self directed recording means in derogation to said selectively implemented variable speed. 
     
     
       13. A programmable sewing machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said means selectively effective for receiving operator imposed instructions for speed further includes means for receiving operator imposed instructions for time duration of automatic operation of said manual control means in derogation to said time duration measuring means.